Pregame notes: Andrew Vaughn revenge game

PHOENIX -- The Brewers have split squad games on Sunday and their starting first baseman still got on the bus from Maryvale to play on the road in this one. Makes you wonder what his motivation is.

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It was a joyous White Sox clubhouse Sunday morning, with Team USA winning the Olympic gold medal in hockey in overtime as a huge collection of players crowded around TVs to watch.

"I did see the last about 60 seconds of the third period there and then the overtime goal," said Will Venable. "It was awesome."

Also Edgar Quero was ready, willing and able to discuss his three-hit performance on Saturday. His straight-shooting nature means he can tell harsh truths about himself, but also won't bother underselling how great his throw on his caught stealing was.

"That was sick," Quero said. "The guy had two steps on him. Just see the ball and try to be quick. I made a perfect throw.”

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This is the first of four games in five days for Munetaka Murakami: He plays first on Sunday, will DH on Monday, get a day off Tuesday and play Wednesday and Thursday.

Shane Smith starts on Monday, followed by Anthony Kay on Tuesday and Davis Martin on Wednesday. Maybe this sounds conspiratorial, but that wouldn't be a surprising way for the White Sox to start out the season.

"We’ll see, we’re going to give these guys the chance to go out and do their thing and it will all work itself out," said Venable, ducking my insinuation with minimal effort.

After all, Mike Vasil is starting this game and Venable doesn't want to close the door on his rotation spot at this juncture.

"Certainly someone who’s deserved this opportunity to compete for a rotation spot," Venable said. "Want to give that to him and we’ll see what it looks like at the end. Just know he’s somebody we can use in a lot of different ways. Certainly his versatility is appealing. We like him in any spot, when he’s on the mound, we like what he can do."

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Austin Hays showed off why you sign Austin Hays in his Cactus League debut on Friday, launching a first-pitch fastball for a no doubt pull-side home run.

"The thing that gives me power at 190 pounds is that I rotate really fast and my hips clear," said Hays, who views his challenge as keeping his front shoulder closed just long enough. "But if I'm not doing a good job of holding that long enough, and I'm not keeping my upper body back, that can also be my downfall. That leads to a lot of chase, it leads to opening early, and you can hit a lot of ground balls that way. But when you hold on to it long enough and your timing is correct, and then the hips open and you're holding the upper body, that stretch, that's where power comes from. So, it's a blessing and a curse. If you use it the right way, it's great."

Hays said that reuniting with hitting director Ryan Fuller after they overlapped in Baltimore, was part of the appeal of signing with the White Sox. The veteran outfielder said he's a visual learner, and praised Fuller for accommodating his processing style with a lot of video displays of how his swing works.

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The league's messaging around increased enforcement for first and third base coaches staying in the coach's box along the baselines, well, the White Sox feel it could be more clear than it's been so far.

"We’ve gotten a bunch of different messages from umpires as far as what it actually means," Venable said. The technical definition of the box. Our understanding now is that it’s really going to be the depth or the proximity to the foul line and to home plate, where then you have space to go back away from the foul line or away from home plate. That’s what we’re expecting. It puts [Justin Jirschele] in a tough spot with runners on second base, but otherwise these guys will be in safe spots to be able to do their jobs and not get annihilated by a line drive."

First pitch: White Sox vs. Brewers

TV: CHSN

Lineups: